Cinda McClelland Reynolds and Lucia Tait Tolani, the duo behind Hong Kong-based interior brand Permanent Resident, talk taste, inspiration and interior design faux pas.
It turns out that if Cinda McClelland Reynolds and Lucia Tait Tolani are anything to go by, starting a business with your best friend could well be the key to success. Having known each other for 15 years, the two combined their backgrounds in fashion with their love of interiors to launch Permanent Resident, which specialises in up-cycled, vintage and unique home decor – something they felt the local market previously lacked.
Since then, it’s become a veritable treasure trove for anyone hunting for distinctive pieces packed with personality: from decadent caviar dishes to whimsical tabletop finds, and vintage-style rattan to glam chaise longues. And although the business is still in its early stages, they’ve already hosted a pop-up at The Upper House, where the cream of the town turned up to celebrate the opening.
The two tastemakers share advice on etiquette, the beauty products they can’t live without and emerging designs on their radar. And for anyone feeling fatigued as their social-media feed fills up with holiday snaps this month, we recommend checking out the interior design Instagram accounts they share for some guaranteed eye candy.
What inspired you to start Permanent Resident?
We wanted to create a shopping experience that preserves heritage pieces while also producing our own beautiful and unique items, as we felt this kind of assortment was really missing in the current local market. We hope to make decorating Hong Kong homes easier by offering new items, vintage treasures and heirloom finds, all in one place.
Tell us about your backgrounds.
CMR: I was vice president for international planning at Tory Burch, where I oversaw the merchandise planning for the retail and wholesale channels in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Before that I worked for Gap in San Francisco and in ecommerce at Burberry in New York.
LTT: With a background in personal shopping, fashion and e-commerce, I moved to Hong Kong a decade ago where I continued with personal styling and introduced an events-based format, inviting designers, brands and retailers to host private events with my clients. Eventually, I began dabbling in interior decoration for select friends and acquaintances, and quickly realised I preferred the world of interiors to that of fashion. Permanent Resident combines my retail and customer-service background with decor and design experience.
How would you describe the Permanent Resident aesthetic and customer?
Distinctive and eclectic. The pieces we handpick and create are intended to start conversations and layer spaces. Our customer is someone who already has a fabulously designed home but is always on the hunt for whimsical or hard-to-find pieces. They’re collectors with a trained eye and have a passion for beauty in all its forms.
Why was it important to have upcycled and preowned products as part of your business model?
We believe origin can add to the beauty and value of an item. We want to celebrate well-made furniture, both from an aesthetic and a sustainable point of view. If everything in a space is new, it lacks depth, interest and history. Celebrating the craftsmanship of the past and present is the key to good design.
How do you manage running a business with a friend? Do you have any advice for someone who might be considering doing the same?
CMR: Communication, a similar work ethic and complementary skill sets are key elements in running a business with a friend. Lucia and I have known each other for more than 15 years, so the longevity of the friendship works in our favour in terms of how we communicate and manage workflow.
LTT:You have to find a business partner with a similar temperament and comparable work experience. Cinda and I both have the unique ability not to take things personally. If we ever disagree, we work through it quickly, the best solution wins and we move on. We also aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty. We do everything in the business, from moving furniture on the weekend to personally delivering orders and even polishing silver.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
CMR: Almost everywhere: travel, art and architecture provide me with endless sources of inspiration.
LTT: Historic houses, museums, design books, travel, antique textiles and local architecture, the list could go on.
Do you have an eye on any emerging designers at the moment?
CMR: I’m currently on the hunt for new lamps and I’m loving the handmade ceramic pieces from Casa Alfarera in the Dominican Republic, as well as the designs from Matthias-Vriens McGrath’s studio Atelier MvM. Many of his designs reimagine existing materials to create new and unique pieces for the home.
LTT: I’m pining for a light fixture or table from Lake Como-based Draga & Aurel, and I love the recycled materials of Dirk van der Kooij.
How would you describe your own personal tastes in interiors?
CMR: Traditional meets modern and always colourful.
LTT: Maximal, experimental and always a work in progress. I love trying new ideas in our home, much to the chagrin of my family. Just last month I had them living in a quasi-construction site because I wanted to paint our ceilings and mouldings.
Are there any hosting rules you live by?
CMR: Fun over formal: I like my guests to feel at ease, and I always keep the glasses full.
LTT: I eschew formality, yet I try to add an element of interest. For a big cocktail party, that might be hiring a mariachi band, and for a small dinner it could be serving caviar and potato chips before a simple grill.
Are there any rules or etiquette a dinner-party guest should follow?
CMR: Arrival should be 10 to 15 minutes after the invitation time, in case the host needs more time to prepare and so they don’t feel rushed. I usually bring something to offer as a thank you – normally wine, champagne, a dessert or an item of interest from a recent trip.
LTT: Never arrive at someone’s home early; the best time is 15 minutes late, ensuring your host has ample opportunity for finishing touches. I never show up empty-handed, but I don’t think it matters too much what you bring, as long as you let the host know they aren’t expected to serve or display it that evening.
What’s your interior-design dream house?
CMR: Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan – it has beautiful art deco interiors designed for entertaining.
LTT: Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan. At almost 100 years old, it’s still the epitome of refined chic.
And the best accounts you follow for interior inspiration?
CMR: I love the eye for eclectic interiors from @mat.taste and @elluxella for grand European architecture.
LTT: The account @whylessisnotmore for inspiration in restrained maximalism, the mix of art and interiors from @acquadiartem and @interiorandfilms for the best interiors in film, from Jean-Luc Godard to Wes Anderson.
What was the last work of art you bought and loved?
CMR: An incredible diptych painting by the Brazilian artist Mariana Palma.
LTT: A painting by our dear friend the Australian Hong Kong-based artist Jono Toh.
Which beauty product can’t you do without?
CMR: Almost everything I use is from SkinCeuticals; I particularly love the hydrating B5 Hyaluronic Acid and CE Ferulic Acid serums. I also love to use organic rosehip oil on my face, neck and hands before bed to maintain moisture.
LTT: MZ Skin’s Soothe & Smooth Hyaluronic Brightening Eye Complex. It’s a miracle for fine lines and dark circles – plus, it actually makes me feel awake.
Your biggest interior-design faux pas?
CMR: Bad overhead lighting – it can really kill the mood in any room.
LTT: Following too many distinct design trends within one space. It can end up looking like the Instagram algorithm exploded.
What’s your favourite shop in Hong Kong?
CMR: I shop the most at Retykle, a local second-hand childrenswear business; my kids are one and three years old and grow out of their clothes so quickly. I love the fact I can resell what they’ve outgrown and buy almost new items for them to wear all in one place.
LTT: I always find something unexpected at Hula. Second-hand shopping can be so much more exciting than traditional retail, as you never know what you might discover.
Which travel destination is top of your list this year?
CMR: I try to visit a new country each year and this year it’s Iceland. I’m really looking forward to seeing the Northern Lights for the first time.
LTT: A girls’ trip to Iceland. The Northern Lights have been on my list for some time and 2024 is predicted to be an excellent year to catch them. Ironically it’s the one place I don’t have a wardrobe for!
(Hero image: The Selma Sofa in Tiger at Haw Par Mansion (Image: Tory Ho) )
Check out our interview with tastemaker Tiffany Chan here
Assistant Editor
A print and multimedia journalist, Madelaine covers fashion, beauty, art & culture, travel and F&B. Before moving into journalism, Madelaine worked for luxury brands such as Estée Lauder Companies, Tom ..Read More
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